Similarly, TNF-α and IFN-γ, central mediators of proinflammatory responses in atherosclerosis [[1], [2], [3]], were upregulated in the aortic arch of MerTKflox/floxTie2Cre mice compared to the control MerTKflox/flox mice (Fig. 4A and D). Here, TNF is linked to atherosclerosis.